Despite new mayor's attack, Easton building will rise

Approvals for Social Security structure were given during McFadden's tenure.

February 12, 2004|By Tracy Jordan Of The Morning Call

Easton Mayor Phil Mitman and about 40 residents tried to derail an Allentown developer's $1.3 million plan to build a new Social Security Administration building on S. Fourth Street at City Council's meeting Wednesday.

But developer Abraham R. Atiyeh received final approval in August from the city Planning Commission to build on the parking lot behind the Cinema Paradiso building-- before Mitman became mayor.

"I know I would have taken a different approach, and maybe we wouldn't be in this situation we are," Mitman said. "I'm not here to bash Mr. Atiyeh, but many of us feel Mr. Atiyeh's project is not creative, it is not visionary, and it is not filled with opportunity."

The only issue before City Council, the removal of two metered parking spaces on Spruce Street, will not stop construction of the one-story, 10,000-square-foot building that Mitman described as "ordinary" and residents called "ugly" and "horrendous."

Atiyeh voluntarily made several design concessions last year after a town meeting organized by former Mayor Michael McFadden.

On Wednesday Atiyeh asked council to approve the removal of the parking meters at its Feb. 25 meeting so he can build a second entrance, for safety, into the parking lot. It also allows his parking lot to have five more parking spaces that will be needed to redevelop the Cinema Paradiso building he purchased along with the vacant lot last March for $700,000.

This is Atiyeh's first project in Easton, but he has developed projects throughout the Lehigh Valley, including Whitehall Manor, Allentown Manor and Saucon Valley Manor.

Atiyeh met with Mitman last week to discuss the work. He brought council President Sandra Vulcano's husband, Pat Vulcano, with him as an adviser.

Sandra Vulcano, who refused to allow Mitman to speak at Tuesday's conference meeting about Atiyeh's project, has indicated she will vote to remove the parking meters. She said her husband's relationship with Atiyeh as a consultant is not a factor in that support.

Another councilman who has supported construction, Michael P. Fleck, received $3,200 in contributions from Atiyeh last year during his mayoral campaign. Another mayoral candidate who received $2,000 in campaign contributions from Atiyeh, former Councilman Dan Corpora, defended Atiyeh at Wednesday's meeting.

"I don't think he's getting the credit he deserves for being a compromising developer," Corpora said. "Before we condemn the whole project, we need to look at the positive aspects that have come. We have a developer who has made the adjustments where he could."

Atiyeh in a phone interview before the meeting said Mitman's opposition has soured him on doing projects in Easton, and he questioned Mitman's motivation.

"The Social Security Administration provides a service for Eastonians, and the mayor is trying to block it," Atiyeh said. "He wants to buy the whole block, but he has no plan other than to build a parking deck."

The site is being considered for a new $8 million to $10 million parking garage and bus terminal for which city, county, state and federal money has been pledged, but no decisions have been made on when or where to build it.

Mitman said he is not trying to block Atiyeh, but he would like the opportunity to work on a plan to redevelop the entire block that includes Perkins Family Restaurant and the Best Western Inn.